National Adolescent Health Month: FYSB’s Work to Support Youth During Their Formative Years
May 31, 2024
On Friday, May 10, 2024, Director Khari M. Garvin and Behavioral Health Lead Sangeeta Parikshak of the Office of Head Start came together for a Q&A Fireside Chat on Facebook Live. They discussed important approaches to supporting mental health in Head Start programs and featured strategies from the recent Information Memorandum (IM), Strategies and Recommendations for Supporting Mental Health .
In case you missed this conversation, these were the top key takeaways.
Understanding what early childhood mental health means is essential for decreasing stigma and supporting the development of all children.
Young children’s mental health does not mean mental illness, but rather social and emotional development and well-being. Trusting relationships and connections among children, families and staff are crucial for supporting mental health. It is a child’s capacity to express and regulate emotions, form trusting relationships, explore and learn — all in the cultural context of family and community.
A whole family approach to mental health is essential.
In Head Start and other early childhood programs, the focus of services is often on the child. But it’s also important to create partnerships within the family unit to build trust and understanding that can help in all areas of development. This may include addressing social determinants of health that can lead to better mental health outcomes and prevent future concerns, as well as supporting families to navigate the mental health system, if needed.
There are several ways to champion child and family mental health through existing family support services. Mental wellness checks during newborn visits are a great example. These mental wellness checks should be geared toward the parent, caregiver or family members caring for the child. Other avenues of support can include creating a virtual or in-person parent and/or caregiver group to help families feel connected, as well as establishing informal points of connection with parents, such as a check-in during parent-teacher conferences.
Training program leaders and staff on how to support children's social and emotional development is an important prevention strategy.
Many education staff are reporting a rise in child behaviors that are challenging. Partnering with families to understand children’s strengths as soon as possible is key to preventing and addressing concerns. When staff and families understand the child, they can help identify strategies such as understanding a child’s temperament and developing predictable routines.
Programs can focus on a mental health approach that prevents concerns. It is important to train staff and volunteers to have basic knowledge of developmentally appropriate strategies and how to build positive behaviors. It can be helpful to adopt the trauma-informed approach of shifting conversations with children and families from, “What is wrong with you?” to “What happened to you?” or “How can I help you?”
Program leaders can also ensure learning environments are designed to support children's ability to self-regulate, with cozy spaces for those who need to take a break or express energy.
Supporting staff wellness is crucial for cultivating a healthy environment for children and the adults that care for them.
Leaders in the Office of Head Start often hear from the field what mental health needs are rising to the surface for grantees. Trauma, anxiety, grief, loss, stress management and challenges with children’s behaviors are the most common topics they hear about.
Mental health consultants have an important role to play in the mental health and wellness of Head Start staff. Acquiring their services and understanding their role in supporting staff is an important step Head Start programs can take.
Head Start directors and leaders are encouraged to engage in strategies to support staff wellness and mental health in programs. For example:
- Offer National Child Traumatic Stress Network trainings on preventing, recognizing, and addressing secondary traumatic stress.
- Develop Tap-In / Tap-Out systems staff members can use when they need a break.
- Establish Wellness Fridays for staff to share challenges and troubleshoot strategies together.
Several additional strategies that support staff wellness are discussed in the recent IM.
Community Partnerships.
Head start partners may include mental health providers as well as other behavioral health supports that are embedded in the community. Programs can support families to access these by assessing and addressing barriers to obtaining services, such as transportation to and from appointments.
There is no one-size-fits-all approach. Most communities have other important sources of support for mental health. Partnerships can include those who offer expertise and culturally grounded mental health practices that fit the social context of both family and community. Community enrichment activities such as sporting events, cultural festivities, religious organizations, or farmers markets can also both protect and promote children and families’ mental health needs.
Tune into the full conversation by visiting the Early Childhood Learning and Knowledge Center (ECLKC) . While you’re there, learn about additional strategies from the recent Information Memorandum (IM): Strategies and Recommendations for Supporting Mental Health .
In addition, the Strategies to Promote the Mental Health and Well-being of Children, Families, and the Early Care and Education Workforce webinar includes examples of comprehensive mental health approaches, including one from a Head Start program.
Don’t forget to subscribe to the ECLKC Mental Health list to receive updates and newsletters related to mental health and wellness resources.
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